Reporters Jailed after ‘Hijack’ Stunt | Aviation International News

Reporters Jailed after ‘Hijack’ Stunt

A New York-based NBC TV crew tried to infiltrate a St.

By Andrew Healey

March 15, 2007

A New York-based NBC TV crew tried to infiltrate a St. Louis, Mo., operator last month, in an attempt to demonstrate how easily terrorists could penetrate security and smuggle weapons or a bomb aboard a helicopter. However, alert staff members at Fostaire Helicopters, based in the general aviation area of the St. Louis Downtown Airport, smelled a rat and called the local police. Two journalists were arrested, handcuffed and thrown into jail.

Airport director Bob McDaniel reported that, following telephone enquiries about
a charter flight, two “Middle Eastern-looking men” turned up at Fostaire’s FBO. When office manager Arlene Thomas asked how they were going to pay for the flight, they produced cash. When asked for ID, they produced driver’s licenses from two different states. (Their car was licensed in a third state.)

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